Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-04-28
THE BUssKx BRIDGE DISASTER.

THE BUSSEY BRIDGE DISASTER.
Some Damaging Findings Against the
Road Made by the Railroad Commits
sioners.
BOSTON, April 27.-The railroad commits
sioners sent to the legislature to-day their
report on the Bussey bridge disaster. 1t
contains complete review of the testimony
at the hearing and closes as follows: The
conclusions which have been reached by the
board are as follows: The contract for re-
building the bridge in 1876 was made with
ont proper examination as to the standing of
the contractor. Those who acted for the cor
poration in making the contract had not suH-
Gent knowledge of iron bridge building to
enable them to pass intelligently upon the
design and specifications. The design and
specifications for the bridge were not
such as should have been accepted.
The tests of the bridge were not made in
the presence of anyone acting for the corpo-
ration who was qualified to judge of their
value. From the time of the construction of
the bridge to the day when it fell the rail
road company had caused it TO be examined
by one man only, who year after year passed
over the vital parts of the bridge without
realizing that they were of Importance. This
man had been in the employment of the cor
poration for a long series of years, his trade
was that of a machinist, he had not been ed
ucated as civil engineer and the manage
that he was not qualified
and had no opportunity to
qualify himself to do the work
assigned to him with reference to this
bridge The series of tests of the bridge
recommended by the board of 1881 was not
made. In the erection and inspection of
bridges the management of road is bound
to exercise the utmost care. Had such care
been exercised, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the disaster would have been pre-
vented.
On the thirty second page of the last re-
port Of the commission is the following:
''The board renews the expression of its be-
lief that preventible accident is crime.''
Notwithstanding the repeated warnings of
the board, the spaces between the ties on
this bridge were far too great
for safety. Notwithstanding the recon-
mendation of the board of 1881,
no suitable guard rails or guard timbers were
placed upon the bridge. The Westinghouse
alike for its simplicity and effectiveness and
long ago approved and adopted by all
the leading railroads, was not in practical
operation on this train: neither was the train
furnished with a sufficient number of brake
men to comply with the requirements of the
statute. The disaster and the facts which
have been disclosed impose grave response
bility on the board of directors. It is their
duty by the most searching inquiry to ascer
tain forthwith whether any other work has
been done in like negligent and incompe-
tent manner, whether in other matters rea-
sonable and we'll proved precautions against
accident have been ignored or neglected
and whether false economy has been prac-
ticed and safely sacrificed. In mitigation
of the sentence of condemnation called for by
the foregoing findings, and in support of the
hope that the history of the Bussey bridge is
exceptional, it must be remembered that from
1869 when the board of railroad commission
ers was created up to the time of this disas-
ter, period of eighteen years, there has been
no train accident on the Boston and Provi-
dence road which resulted in the loss of a life
OF even in serious injury to passenger. The
accident furnishes another proof of the neces-
sity of abolishing the deadly car stove. As
bridges embody many possibilities of danger
it is proper that special means should be
taken to secure careful, competent and faith
full construction and thorough and scientific
examination of them by the railroads at reg
ular intervals followed by thorough State
inspection. The Importance of such action is
by the fact that the weight of
engines and rolling stock and of the loads
carried has been increasing for many years.
The board recommends the passage of an act
requiring every railroad at least once in two
years to have thorough examination of all
bridges on its lines made by a competent and
experienced civil engineer, who shall report
in writing to the corporation and to the COM
missioners the result of his examinations, his
conclusions and recommendations.